title: Sensitisation to Lepisma saccharina (silverfish) in children with respiratory allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lepisma saccharina (silverfish) is a common insect which is often found in human dwellings. Our aim was to determine the IgE antibody pattern to this arthropod in children with allergic respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The individual sera and a pool of selected sera of 45 children with asthma and/or rhinitis were used for an immunoblotting test with an extract of Lepisma saccharina; an immunoblotting inhibition test was performed with extracts of L. saccharina, D. pteronyssinus and cockroach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between one and ten IgE binding bands were found in the sera of patients. The immunoblotting pattern was clearly different from that of D. pteronyssinus. Inhibition was found with D. pteronys-sinus and cockroach, which proves cross-reactivity between extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergenicity of Lepisma is demonstrated through in vitro tests. A pathogenic role still remains to be proved, but it should be considered in respiratory allergy, due to primary sensitisation to Lepisma, or to cross-reactivity with other indoor allergens.
authors.affiliation: Services of Pediatrics and Allergy. Hospital Xeral Calde. Lugo. España, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boquete
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pamies
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millan Olmo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007313:Insecta / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E